States vary on higher premiums paid by tobacco users under the ACA

September 9, 2015Source: Kansas Health Institute

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies are allowed to charge individuals who use tobacco products higher premiums for health insurance than non-tobacco users. This additional cost is added to premiums for tobacco users in the form of a tobacco use surcharge. Kansas Health Institute (KHI) staff reached out to representatives from health insurance companies offering coverage on the Kansas marketplace, national insurance industry officials and health policy experts to find out how this part of the ACA has been implemented and how it impacts Kansas consumers.